HUE028146T2 - Method and device for the transfer of a jaw model in relation to a hinge axis - Google Patents

Description

The invention concerns a method for the hinge-axis-related transfer of a jaw mode! of a patient according to daim 1 «and a registration system according to the chapete?j#n|· dâuse-of cira 1.4.

Often, dental work, such as the preparation, production and adaptation of sets of teeth, the production of inlays orbite aids, etc., may be carried out only partially on the patient, or in the mouth of the patient him/hemdf. but, instead, it is more often the case that at. least a considerable portion has to be done in the dental laboratory in an articulator. In doing so, the articulator's function is to imitate the geometric relationships in the region of the jaw of the patient more or less precisely, or provide a simulation of it at the dental teehmeiarv s workptaee.

In terms of the quality and required precision of dental work, which often tallstn the hundredths of a millimetre range or even less due to the high sensory acuteness of the masticatory system in humans. It may be necessary, depending on the complexity of the work that needs to he carried put, to reproduce the patient’s masticaforv apparatus and its geometric characteristic values very precisely fe the dental árt|euiator.

These fundamental geometric characteristic values of the jaw geometry transferred to the articulator include, in particularly, though in no way exclusively, the relative spatial positions of the rows of teeth of the upper jaw and of the lower jaw to each oilier as well as to tlte patient's hinge axis, thus to the hinge axis of tlte lower jaw in relation to the upper jaw or skull. Since these geometric characteristic values vary from patient to patient, the so-called mean value adjustments of these geometric characteristic values, especially a mean value adjustment of the hinge axis position on the articulator, are used, at most, for simple dental work only where precision requirements are low.

In contrast, for more demanding dental work it is Imperative to reproduce the masticatory geometry of the pattern, arid, in doing so, the spatial position the jaw relative to the patient's hinge: axis, with the highest precision possible in the articula Vila the course ofthe reproduction: ofthe geometric: relationships itt the jaw of a patient: in an articulator,: normally a model of a first row of teeth of the patient is transferred by an appropriate means, or by transfer devices, and mounted-in an mtieulator positioned and aligned correctly with respect to the hinge axis of tie articulator. "Ilten a model of the second row of teeth of the patient is positioned m the occlusal position relative to the first row of teeth itt the articulator also, which is done for the most parr by means of centric registration, that is, with the aid of an impression of both, rows: of foeth. of the patient in the occlusal position in a suitable thin casting materia!, aller which the model of the second row of teeth is fixed in this occlusal position also in the articulator. Thus, the relative position ofthe two rows of teeth ofthe patient is reproduced in this manner in relation to each other in the articulator as well as to the binge axis ofthe patient, or also to the articulator hinge axis.

In the ease of the methods and devices known from the prior art for transferring jaw models of a patient*, dte papmetrje- retóíve relationships between jaw and hinge axis m the patient's skull are frsnsiefred in the dental artfouiator or in an articulator mounting stand generally by means of a lac® bow. ilere, the face bow serves to store the spatial position of a row of teeth ofthe patient rel-athc to the hmge axis oftbe patient in a mostly mechanical manner or to encode the face bow by appropriate adjustment, such thatdins: relative spatial position between a rots of teeth and hinge axis of the patient can oe rcjsrodueed later external to the pattern, in particular in the dental laboratory or on the: articulator.

With this m mind, normally in the prior art the relative spatial position between the row of teeth bf the upper jaw on the one hand: and specified fixed points oh the patient's skull on the other hand: ate acMevéd by appropriate of thfe lace bow, or encoded in the lace tew. lise known, so-called arbitrary transiteoftbe face bow known » m the om hand, from the relevant prior an provides, at most, an empirically established relationship between: tire typical position of the hinge axis relative to the porion of the patient - that isr relative to the highest point of'the external auditory passage -· on the human skull.

In thfe known arbitrary face bow transfer* it is not the actual hinge axis which is accessed on the patient's skull and: encoded, te rneans of the face how lor the transfer to ?he articulator, but, instead, for example, it is concluded, by means of corresponding car .Ups arranged on the face tew which are inserted into the outer auditory passage of the pattern, írom the position of the porion to the position of the patient’s hinge axis simply using average statistical values.

The arbitrary transfer of the face bow can only ensure, thereby , an avepgc but by no means exact reproduction of the geometric relationships of the masticatory system of a patient: in the articulator, and is suitable for use, therefore, only in the case of less exacting work In the dental laboratory which essentially involves the reproduction of die correct occlusion between upper :pW and lower jaw using centric registration.

However, more demanding restoration work in the articulator often requires not only average but. much more often, individual and precise transfer oft.be hinge axis position relative to the rows of teeth the jaw of the patient, in the prior art, the acquisition and transfer of the actual huwe axis position required for this is done using, mostly, kinematic determination of the patient's hinge axis. This kinematic déterminât sort ears be undertaken electronically or by mechanical stylus recording using a lower jaw measuring bow. By doing so, the, patient’s actual detenu tned hmge axis position can then be encoded on a so-called terminal face bow through which, in contrast to the arbitrary face bow, the position of the hinge axis can be adjusted and thus individually transferred to the articulator.

In the prior art, however, when transferring geometry by "means of kinematic determination and a terminal face bow·, it is necessary' to maintain the kinematically-determined actual hinge axis position initially by rneans of measurement markings only, mostly on the skin of the patient. After this, the apparatus used for localising the axis is removed from the patient's head, the terminai face bow is attached to the row of teeth of the upper jaw arai the bow is adjusted to the hinge axis measurement markings applied previously. Since the patient's skirt - and therefore the measurement markings disposed on the skin concerning the lunge axis pasidon - can move slightly relative to the skull of the patient, this can however cause ttot insignificant transfer errors to fee introduced when a terminal face bow is used.

However, in this case regardless also whether or not insignificant inaccuracies are induced possibly to slight movements of the measurement1 markings disposed on the skin of the patient-- the double transfer operation alone of the hinge axis measurement values first from the measurement bow to she measurement markings, and then the manual capture of the measurement markings using a face bow incurs not insigni ficani sources of error. ft is only aller the appropriate adjustnumt of the terminal face how -- m particular using the markings of the hinge axis position on the head of the patient - thai the face bow can then be removed from the head of the patient, and the masticators geometry of the patient can be transferred to an articulator or an articulator mounting stand by means of the relative spatial relationship, now stored in the lace bow, between the row of teeth of the upper jaw and the kinematically determined condylar axis.

In the final analysis, with regard M ire known methods and des ices ferfhe transfer of jaw models to an anietdator, it must be recognised ikm ihenwthods and devices known; from the prior art in particular due toihe need to access the skull geometry by means of a face bow and to transfer k to the articulator ··· are extremely expense m the one hand and prone to errors on the other,

Abo the prior art involves the unavoidable transfer of the complete face how - or at least a bite fork sviih an upper jaxv tooth impression and a sensitive attachment mechanism arranged on the bite fork and adjusted to the jaw geometry oft he patient - lor transferring the geometry to the dental laboratory which is complex and, because of the need to store these components for di fièrent patients in multiple quantities, tends to be expensive. Not least, during the transfer, especially ifit involves any dispatch of the face bow or of the adjusted attachment mechanism to the dental laboratory, there is always the added risk that the precisely performed adjustment is accidentally altered by the effects of an external force,.-resulting unavoidably in cosily scrap in production in the dental laboratory, A method according to the characterising clause of claim I and a registration system according to the characterising clause of claim 14 are known from WO 2006 015809. Ága isist this background, the task of fne present in version is to create a method and a registration system ha the hinge-axis·· related transfer of jaw models with art associated bite su pport and biftbef a connection device lor attaching a lower jaw adapter to a measurement support, This Is Intended to overcome the disadvantages existing in the prior ait.

In particular, the aim is to make a decisive, qualitative improvement in the process of rranslbrring the geometry from the patient's head to the articulator and, in doing so, at the same time to simplify it substantially, Furthermore, the method and the device should result in a much lower cost compared wuh the prior an and with a sustainable reduction or elimination of sources of error while simultaneously increasing flexibility. Finally, it is intended that the gathering and transfer of jaw geometries, or jaw models, rtf pi lents to the attlctdatpr are simplified considerably from a manual work viewpoint so that the corresponding devices and methods ean be applied by an expanded group of people more simply and reliably than is the case -with the methods known, trenn the prior art.

This task is resolved by a method in accordance with claim 1, or by a registration system in accordance with claim .14. inferred embodiments Ihrni the kubjeei matter of the dependent claims,

The method according to the invention serves to provide the hinge-axis-relared transfer of a jaw model of a patient to an articulator mounting stand having an articulator hmge axis. The articulator mounting stand, which cap. involve a suitable dental articulator, here provides the spatial palienweiated osNcmbh 05 the uro , \h <, ->, J \t ,o :he m? vuk , i auw*. nvs

In the method according to the invention, a lower jaw adapter is used for the transfer of the jaw model In the find instance which can involve, for example, an impression tray, an occlusal bite fork, a paraoeclusal registration aid, or a combination thereof in each case, the lower jaw adapter has a suitable hue support, wherein the bile support can be connected by means of a casting compound* while producing a bite pattern;, that is, an impression ofthe lower jaw, or lower jaw row ofteeth, with the lower jaw or lower jaw rosy of teeth.

Furthermore, the lower jaw adapter comprises m attachment device connected with the bite support, wherein, moreover, the articulator or monotlng stand has an attachment support complementary in shape wth the attaelimeis device of the lower jaw adapter, said attaehmem support being able to mal® a spatially-defined, positive connection wihfoe attachment device of the lower jaw adapter. Tlms: the attachment device of the mounting stand is disposed on the ntonntigg stand and can be adjusted reproducibly relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand.

As part of the method according to the invention, in a first step a), a casting compound is first arranged on a lower jaw tooth contact surlhec of the lower jaw adapter.

In a further step b), a connection then takes place between the lower jaw adapter and fire dental arch of the patient's lower jaw by means of the easting compound arranged on the lower jaw adapter. This produces an impression of the lower jaw row of teeth In the casting compound arranged on the lower jaw adapter, Â further step c) then follows in which the ja w hinge is registered wi th deienmnafion of the hinge ask This determinos the spatial position of the hinge axis of the patient relative to the lower jaw adapter, in particular relative to the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter

The i os\«r jaw adapter is then removed from foe jaw, or from the row of teeth of foe patient and, in a further step d), foe bite support is attached, using the impression of the lower jaw row of teeth of the patient m the casting compound on the bite support, to a lower jaw model of the patient, in a further step e), the hie support and the lower jaw model arranged ip the impression: of the bite support arc then arranged on foe nrountlog stand. Tbeunmtgemegtoithe hite »apport and the lower jaw model in the mounting: stand is done hy efotneefipg the bite support attachment device 10 dm attachment support, complementary in shape to tlfo attachment device, on the assembly stand.

In other words, this means that bite support and lower jaw model are spatially fixed provisionally relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand, or relative to an optional lower jaw mounting plate of the mounting stand attached to the hinge axis. In this case, the attachment support on the mounting stand and the lower jaw model attached 10 it by means of the bite support are still initially located in a neutral position relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand; the position the hinge axis offne mounting stand relative to the lower law model does not yet coincide with the actual lunge axis position of the patient relative to the model. I fining already determined the hinge axis, how es ci, tno exact span J relationship ol the „mach ment device of the bite support * and thus also the spatial relationship of the attachment support of the mounting stand attached to the attachment device - is knoun already relative to the patient's actual hinge axis,

Against this background, step e) also produces an alignment of the relative spatial position between the mounting stand -attachment support and the hinge axis of the mourning stand in relation to the binge axis to the relative spatial position determined in the registration between the patient's hinge axis and the attachment device of tine lower jaw adapter until there is congruence between foe patient's hinge axis and the mounting stand hinge axis relative to the lower jaw model.

In other words, this means that the spatial position the attachment support of the mourning stand as well as of the bite support arranged positively on she attachment support ·· together with the defined lower jaw model arranged on the bite support ~ is adjusted precisely relative 10 the hinge axis of the mounting stand in step e) using the hinge axis position determined in step c) such ihat the attachment support, of the mounting stand telaiivc to the hinge axis of foe mounting stand is located spatially in exactly the same relative relationship· as the attachment device·of the bite support relative to the hinge axis of the patient.

Purely as: an example, this may result in the tact that the attachaient support: of the nmuruing: stand, and therefore the bite support also with the lower jaw mode! arranged to it. and the lunge joint points of the mounting stand are moved relative to each other until the reiahse spatial position between the attachment support' of the mounting stand and the mounting stand h.mge axis defined by the hinge jomt points coincide exactly with the relative spatial position, determined earlier, between the ahachmeni device of the bite support and the patient’s hinge axis. Therefore, after performing step eb exact: agreement oS the co-ordinate system on the mounting stand is achieved with the co-ordinate system: of die patient's low er jaw, insofar as the relative position between lower jaw and patient’s hinge axis is concerned.

Furthermore, the invention is also realised when the sequence of the method described in step e) is reversed, that is, when initially the alignment takes place of the feint ive spatial position of the mounting stand attachment support in relation to the mounting stand hinge axis with the relative spatial position determined during registration between the patient's hinge axis and the lower jaw adapter attachment device, and only after the bite support and the lower jaw mode! are arranged by attaching the lower jaw adapter attachment device and mounting stand attachment support in the mounting stand. Í in a further step ft, the lower jaw model is fixed in place on a lower jaw mounting plate, or on the --mcr part of the mounting standi or of the articulator, for example, by attaching the lower jaw model to: the mounting plate using a curable easting compound.

Subsequently, the positioning can take place in a known manner ofan tipper jaw model of the patient relative to the lower jaw model disposed and positioned in the mounting stand or articulator - for example, by means of a centric registration taken in the occlusal position online patient --as well as the fixing in place of the upper jaw model on an associated upper jaw mounting plate or on an upper section of the mounting stand or articulator. 'Therefore, the method according to the invention has the immediate decisive advanmge that localisation of the hinge axis of the patient is required relative to the lower jaw' only - m particular relative to the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter. This is because, since the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter or bite support and the attachment support of the mounting stand being formed to be complementary in shape to each other and therefore being defined spatially in relation to each other can be lined in place, the spatial position of the hinge as is of the patient relative to the attachment support of a mourning stand or articulator is also known therefore, insofar as the attachment device of the bite support is connected to the attachment support of tire mounting: stand or articulator,

The relative spatial relationship, present On the patient and determined in step c\ between the lower jaw adapter - In particular between the attachment device of the bite .support of the lower jaw adapter -andthe patient’s hinge axis is transferred according to the invention simply, therefore, by arranging the bite support by the attachment device in the mounting stand and by aligning the relative spatial position of the mounting stand attachment support and the mounting stand hinge axis to the previously determined patient's hinge axis position relative to the hie support attachment device in the mounting; stand or articulator. Thanks to the invention, this can now be carried out with practically any high degree of accuracy and, simultaneously, in a simple, reproducible manner not achieved before,

At the same time, the geometry transfer always necessary, costly and, simultaneously error-prone up to the present according to the prior art using an arbitrary face bow (in the ease of average axis localisation) or using a terminal lace bow (in the ease of kinematic axis localisation) is c Intimated completely. in other words, the invention is based primarily on the ground-breaking understanding that the transfer of the geometric relationships on the skull, in particular on the jaw of the patient, can take place with a decisive advantage and by completely circumventing the, at most, imprecise and additionally expensive transfer oft.be skull geometry using a iace bow such that, instead: of the skull-related transfer, the relative spatial relationship between the lower jaw row of teeth and the patient's hinge axis is determined directly and is used for the geometry transfer. Due to the anatomical relationships of the jaw hinge with its condyles disposed on the io wer jaw, this applies all the more as the hmge axis is geometrically and precisely associated with the lower jaw only, whereas the hinge axis position relative to the upper jaw can vary considerably depending on the position of the lower jaw. For this reas-Tt alone, m contrast to the method according to the invention, die transfer of the hinge axis position employed persistently In the prior art, using the approach where the hinge axis position is obtained on the skull instead of on the lower jaw as required by the invention, is unavoidably prone to error, in doing so tire invention is realised immediately regardless of the manner in which the binge axis is determined in step c). Thus, the hinge axis can be determined in step c) using, for example, varions mechanical or electronic methods to determine the axis kinematically, as such, known from the prior art. It is simply essential that the determination of the spatial position of the patient's hmge axis is carried out relative only to the lower jaw, in particular relative only to the attachment device of the bite support,

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the determination of the hinge axis takes place in step ¢), but by means of non-contact measurement of an opening movement of the lower jaw, or, using non-contact measurement of a relative .movement X’ivtcop the pnseiu'x lower -an and ·4ι:!1 TI, - non-contact measurement is mUmtfugvons insofar as it is possible to perform using practically no force and obtaining, thereby, an undistorted measurement, virtually avoiding, therefore, gpy mpëtpùSèkms.affecting the pafienf%:natumi jaw movements.

The determination o f die hinge axis by measuring a relative movement between lower jaw and skull is especially advantageous insofar as, in using this method, any head movements are acquired and can be eliminated by metrological methods; the patient's head must not he strapped down or rendered immovable in any other way. which has the great advantage of providing for the comfort ttf the paient and therefore the readiness of the patient to co-operate.

According to another particularly preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, the determination of the hinge axis in step c) comprises also the determination of a reference plane relative to the skill: and an associated reference angle., determined by the spatial position of the lower jaw, relative to the skull-related reference plane. In this embodiment, m step e), by an appropriate adjustment of die reference angle position, accordingly designed to be movable, of the mounting stand ittachmcffl support as weil as, therefore, of the bite support arranged on the attachment support against &amp; reference level of the mounting stand, agreement takes place of the reference angle determined during registration in step e) with the attachment support, bite support and lower jaw model.

With this eipibodintignt, m d: result eCtÉfê «dt Äsfgr thus facilitated both of the skull reference plane as wed as of the patient-specific refe«· öpgprt^'Ég· mound ng stand or articulator, fellartienlaflbh: In particular also, mcl«difg: t|e estire jaw hinge geometry related to the reference plane, such as, for example, condylar track inehnatum, Bcnnetl angle, reiru«^fo#Uffop* JiMf $bfo aide shift, can he take place,

The non-eontact hinge axis determination takes place according in another, likewise preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention stteh that, to achieve a non-contact measurement, a measurement support is connected to the tower jaw adapter wherein the measurement support has marker elements fór the non-contaet determination of position .This embodiment: .has the advantage that, the non-contact hinge axis determination by means ol reflectors or markers disposed on the measnremepl support can be performed in particular by optical image recognition. Mowed fey digital image processing,

Against this background, according toanother preferred embodiment (tithe method according to the mvemion, provision is made that the connection of the measurement support to the lower jaw adapter is done by means of an attachment supp>n arranged on the measurement support. In this case, the attachment support of the measurement support is formed so as to complement the shape of the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter (again, in turn complementing the shape ofthe attachment support of the mounting stand), and, furthermore, the spatial position of the marker elements relative to the attachment support is known, A simple modular system intended for non-contact Or optical registration is produced in this ntanner for the attachment and separation also of lower jäw adaptor and measurement support. Since the spatial position of the marker elements relative to the attachment support of the measurement support is known, and since, in the non-contaet or optica! measurement,, the spatial position of die marker elements relative to the patient's lunge axis is determined, after the measurement the hinge axis position relative to the attachment support of the measurement support and therefore, in turn, to the attachment device of the bite support on the lower raw adapter, is therefore known, since during the measurement the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter is connected to the attachment support of the measurement support,

Using the patient's hinge axis position* determined by uomeontact means, relative to the attachment device of the bite support on the lower jaw adapter, ata given spatial position of an attachment support, the hinge axis position can he reconstrueted in space at any time again relative to the attachment support by arranging the bite support in the attachment support. This applies in particular for the situation in the mounting stand or articulator. If an attachment support Is arranged on a mounting stand or articulator, the bite support can be attached to dm teeth impressions, that is. with the bite pattern, with this attachment support of-the : mounting stand or articulator.

If the associated jaw mode! is arranged in the teeth impressions of the brie pattern on the bite support, alt that remains is to bring the mounting stand hinge axis into the position, determined during the measurement relative to the attachment device of fhe bite support, which coincides with the attachment support of the mounting stand with the bite support mounted itr the mounting stand.

The result of this Is that the exact relative spatial position between patieufs lower jaw and patient’s hinge axis can be reproduced: on the mounting stand or articulator in a most simple, precise and reproducible manner-simply by passing the bite support with the bite pattern accompanied b> the associated data about the hinge axis position determined on the patient to the laboratory fór example. frefeably, in this the. rum-contact detennldation of the patient's hinge axis position takes place by means of optica! image traofring of the marker elements using at least one image recording camera, 'tills has the advantage in particular that several marker elements can be acquired and followed by this same camera: moreover, the measuring can take place with suitable optics and camera resolution from a certain distance, whereby it is possible to avoid m particular possibly irritating the patient hv having measurement apparatus in tie immediate vicinity of the pattern's head.

Against the background of the non-contact or optical measurement, according to another preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision is made that the non··contact measurement includes digital processing of the images of the marker elements acquired by the camera. In this, the digital image processing comprises at least one re-sharpening operádon, such as a Hough transformation. Using the digital image processing with a re-sharpening operation increases the precision with which the position of the marker elements captured by the camera is determined almost as desired, especially, moreover, if the markers are designed with shapes, such as several concentric circles and/or radial contrasting shapes since this has die effect of multiplying the information cpntehf of Ute images of the marker elemen ts produced by the image recording camera. furthermore, by providing the markers with suitable graphic or geometric shapes, this also provides foe possibility of determining the spatial position of foe markers relative fo the three dimensional «nage recording camera, including the distance, angle, inclination, rotation, of the markers relative to the position of the image recording camera. In particular, this allows the camera to be calibrated completely automatically relative 10 the markers in fore#dimensionaldpaca-sef dte the unpublished patent apphearon It) fofon o*u 6 umeh is -referiid-to· expressly and which»· in its disclosure, is included in the disclosure offne present Invention in terms of the graphical shaping, optical capture, tracking and spatial localisation of marker elements, as well as the automatic calibration of a camera measuring system. T his also leads on to the further decisive advantage that, in order to obtain a precise image of the relative movement offne lower jaw and the patient’s hinge axis position derived from if it is not necessary - apart from a measuring how, which as light as a leather, on foe lower jaw to secure or strap any measuring apparatus on to the head of the patient which might irritate the patient and» therefore, distort the measurement result, or render it more difficult to obtain the co-operation of the patient during the hinge axis measurement operation,

The invention |s realised ip tie first itwrifoee fegaPiess of the manner in which the measurement support is geometrically shaped or designed. Thus, it. is also conceivable:, for example, as well as structurally possible, to make the measurement support in a comparatively compact manner to arrange it in the immediate vicinity of the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter, and to establish the positions oftbe marker elements, here disposed essentially periorally an the measurement support, by optical tracking using one or more cameras,

According to a particularly preferred embodiment -of the method according to the invention, foe messt tremept support is formed, however, as a lower jaw measuring how whereto the marker elements are disposed on the measuring bow near to the jaw hinge for non-contact determination of the pos-tiom

According to this, by using several markers arranged, for example,, dh both: sides of the jaw hinge on the lower jaw measuring bow with a comparatively targe gap - and, therefore, with an accurate measurement basts, therefore - on the one hand it :s possible to determine the lunge axis with a high degree of precision. On the other hand, with :10-, ar.mgc'uent m.\ the j. w fom_e ot foe :00,000,,g ww markers, some additional reference markers can be arranged also near the jaw hinge on the skull ot the patient for determining foe reference plane and/or for capturing and eliminating h> metrological means the skull movements of the patient, and the measuring bow markers as well as the refetonee markers can each be captured with the same sensor device or camera.

This· means, in other words, itat it is possible to obtain a complete spatial capture of the position and orleruntion of the measuring bow (and therefore also of the patient’s hinge axis), as well as simultaneously capturing the skull-related reference plane and of the reference angle as well as eliminating by metrological means tire skull movements of the patient, just by using two image recording cameras directed towards the i eg Ion of the two Jaw: hinges.· in order to realise the method according to the invention, it is not important in the lirst instance how the alignment of the relative spatial position of the attachment support in the mounting stand or articulator is carried out in step e) ht relation to the hinge axis of the mounting stand, if necessary together with bite support and lower jaw model, provided that it is ensured that, after the alignment, the relative spatial relationship between the attachment support of the mounting stand and the mounting stand hinge axis coincides with the relative spatial relationship, earlier determined on the patient, between the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter and the patient's lunge axis.

In particular the alignment of the spatial position between attachment support and mouptmg stund hinge axis relative to the corresponding, measured relative spatial position hetvvecé lower Jaw adapter attachment des tee and patient's hinge axis can he done in the mounting stand by, for example, manual!} adjusting either the attachment support or the mounting stand hinge axis. The mounting stand can he set up for this, for example, such that the two articular cavities, using ctwesponding parallel guides that can be disposed, adjusted and fastened to the mounting stand, can each be moved1 m three spatial directions until there is agreement between the mounting stand hinge axis and the1 panent T hinge axis relative to the attachment: support on the mounting stand.

According to a preferred embodiment of the method according to the invention, however, provision is made in step e) that the agreement of the relative spatial position of the attachment support, if necessary with the bite support and lower jaw model already arranged: on the mounting standi takes place with respect to the hinge axis of tbc mounting stand by means of electiir-nvechanicai actuators, such as servo motors, arranged on the mounting stand.

This can be realised, for example, although in no way exclusively, by a design irt which the two hinge points or articulatory sockets of the mounting stand defining the tndunling spit# hinge axis ám adjusted by servo motor until agreement bps been achieved between the mounting stand hinge axis and the patient’s hinge axis relative to the attachment support on the mounting stand.

This embodiment offers a particularly high reliability and a particularly simple ease of operation tbit the user due to the achievable, extensi vely automated adjustment of the mounting stand. This applies in partions,u when die mono one. stand hinge axis ts moved to the mounting statut attachment support using the data determined automatically during registration and passed on,, for example, to the dental laboratory and concerning the spatial position of the hinge axis of the patient relative to the attachment; device of the lower Jaw adapter, !$ contrast to the example of mechanisation of the mounting stand by servo motor, according to a imther alternative embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision is made that the arrangement of the bite support and lower jaw model in the mounting stand as we! I as the alignment of the relative spatial position of the mounting stand attachment support and of the bite support and lower jaw model arranged in it lakes place in step e) using a lower jaw trau siet bow. Here, the lower jaw transfer bow comprises two axis marker elements, lor example, two axis marker points, as well as simuianeousiy the attachment support forming the mounting stand attachment support for the attachment device of the hue support* wherein the relative spatial position between the line joining the axes marker element? and the attachment des ice of the lower jaw transfer bow is ad scat able and ;s fixed in conformance with the patient's hinge axis position determined in step c) relative to the attachment device of the bite support..

According to this embodiment, in this process the arrangement of the feite support and lower jaw mode! in the mounting stand as well as the alignment of the relative spatial position of the mounting stand attachment support relative to the mounting stand hinge axis fakes place in smp e) using the lower jo w transfer how besuch a way that the axis marker elements of the fewer jaw transfer bow ate eooneeied, or aligned, with the axis position points arranged on the hinge axis of the mounting stand

Ibis means, in other words* that* according to this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the relative spatial relationship between the patient’s hinge axis and the attachment device of the hite ,supps>rt is mechanicaily encoded in the form of the position adjusted and fixed on the lower jaw transfer bow between the axis marker points of the lower jaw transfer bow and: the attachment device of the lower jaw transfer bow relative to the lower jaw1 transfer how. Here, this encoding of the lower jaw transfer how Is carried out preferably directly alter detenmnafion ofifei hinge axis* by. hr example, moving the marker points of the lower jaw transfer tew until there is congruence between the marker points on the tower jaw transfer bow and the patient’s determined hinge axis. In doing so. It is possible for there to he a simultaneous transfer of flmpatlent-speeihe reference angle in terms of a skull-reference plane, determined on the patient, to the mouthing stand, in which an angle adjustment element is provided in the region of the marker points of the lower jaw transfer bow, with the aid of w Inch the reference angle position of the lower jaw transfer bow on the mounting stand can fee checked or adjusted.

Against this background, according to a iUrther preferred emhodimont ofthe method according to the invention, provision is made that the lower jaw measuring bow simuftaneously forms the lower jaw transfer how. Thus, by using the same lower jaw how with which the hinge axis Itself had been determined. Éhe mechanical transfer of the patieofs hinge axis position to the mounting stand or articulator cap he performed wfíÉOut exchanging the fewer jaw bosv.

According to a further1 embodiment of the method according to the invention, provision Is mode that the attachment device oftbe lower jaw adapter is arranged on the fewer jaw adapter to he adjustable relative to the tooth contact surfaces of the lower jaw adapter, preferably by means, of .a ball joint

The background of this embodiment is that, in the method according to the invention in its most genera! form, the relative, relationship between the patient's hinge axis and the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter is transferred to the mounting stand. For this, it is advantageous if the attachment des Ice of the lower jaw adapter relative to the tooth contact surfaces of the loss or jaw adapter is presented to the patient near to the standard position of the attachment device pertaining to tire hinge axis neutral position of the mounting stand so that minor adjustments only need to be made luter to the mounting stand to align the mounting stand hinge axis with the patient's binge axis,

Fufekernrore, in thts manner, the lower jaw adapter can fee adapted easily to varions jaw and skull geometries of different patients. This is particularly important if a standardised jaw measuring bow and/or a panioedusa! registration aid ts used to determine the hinge axis, since, if this were not the case, that, is, without' an adjustable attachment device, it would be hardly passible to vary the position ni'the lower law' nteasuring bow relative to the dental arch of the lower jaw or relative to the lower jaw of the patient, and therefore to approximately adjust the lower jaw- measuring bow beidre measuring.

According to u îurl her embodiment of the method according to the invention, the bite support of fee lower j aw adapter is formed as an occlusal hite fork In the case of this embodiment, it is possible to dispense with, in particular, a ball joint or another adjustable connection between the attachment device of the lower raw adapter and the tooth contact surface of the lower jaw adapter. This is because an occlusal bite fork -generally offers enough play in the approximate adjustment such that, in the preliminary stages of determining the hinge axis, the lower jaw measuring bow is roughly located in the correct measuring position relative to the jaw of the patient. If only an occlusal bite fork is used, -fus embodiment of the method according to the invention is particularly suitable lor a simple, robust and cost-effective registration or hinge axis determination, followed by transfer of the geometry to the mounting stand.

Against this haekpotmd, according to a ftóffor embcÄÄöf âm msikM&amp;cQorûmg to the In venden, provision is made in an additional step c’) that casting compound is additionally applied also to the upper jaw tooth contact surface of the hite support formed as an occlusal bite fork. Following this, in a mrther step e”), an impression Is made of the upper jaw dental arch in the casting compound arranged on the upper jaw tooth contact surface of the bite support. lltfs means m other words that the relative position of upper jaw md lower jaw « using fee impressions of both denial arches - are encoded on the occlusal bite support. Thus -- just by transferring the bite support together with fee data concerning the patient's hinge axis position to the dental technician, for example, - both the lower jaw model as well as the upper jaw model of the patient arc arranged and fixed in the exact positions and correctly orientated in the mounting stand or articulator.

Contrasting against fee above alternatives, ip a further embodiment of the method according to the invention, the bite support of the lower jaw adapter is formed as a paraocclusal registration aid. in fers way, the jaw hinge registration takes place with especially great accuracy since, in using a paraoccinsal registration aid, no interferences and no unnatural occlusal gap of any kind are introduced.

According to a further embodiment of the method aeeorbmg to the invention, provision is made that the lower jaw adapter comprises an occlusal hue lork with an attachment device as the bite support as well as a paraocclusal registration aid wait an intercnedfefe.adapter*More,the intermediate adapter has an attachment support for the attachment device of the occlusal bite fork. According to this embodiment, in step e), in order to determine the hinge pas, fee paraocelnsal registration aid is first used with the intermediate adapter, and the spatial position of fee patient's binge axis is determined relative to the attachment support of the intermediate adapter.

According to this embodiment, the method has the additional steps cr) and m) described in fee following. In a first additional stepcjj, alter determining fee hinp axis, using fee fetermediaícárfspter, the occlusal bite fork is connected to the paraocclusal mgistfatiou old still arranged on fee fewer jaw row of teeth of the patient, in doing so. another impression is made of fee lower jaw dental arch of the patient in the casting compound arranged on the tooth contact surface of the occlusal bite fork, litis means, in other words, feat, by doing so in step eft, fee relative spatial position determ kted earlier in step ci between the patient’s hinge axis and the attachment support of the Intermediate adapter Is now also applied to the attachment device of fee occlusal bite lofe: by arranging the occlusal bite Tbit on the attachment support of the intermediate adapter, wherein, at the same time, fee relative spátia! position also of the lower jaw dental arch of the ptient relative to The attachment support of fee Intermediate adapter and, therefore, also to the attachment device of the occlusal bite fork is encoded on fee occlusal bite fork.

Thus.; in consequence, in this case also the occlusal hue fork again constitutes the bile support on which, as an information carrier using the tooth impressions as a bite pattern, the precise relative spatial position between patient's hinge axis and attachment support of the intermediate adapter existing during the determination of the hinge axis is encoded or stored.

Lastly, in a further step cfo the occlusal bite fork is separated from the paraocclusal registration aid ansi the occlusal bite fork and the paraocclusal registration aid are removed irons lower jaw of the patient.

Titus, in this embodiment of the method according to the invention, alter steps ci} and cyi, the relative spatial relationship between patient's hinge axis, lower jaw dental arch and atiachment device are again encoded just on the occlusal bite fork, together with the associated lunge axis data set.

Accordingly, in this case also, the transfer of jaw model and jaw geometry to the mounting stand is done simply be passing on -die occlusal bite fork as a bite support together with the hinge axis data set, although, according to this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the actual registration or hinge axis determination was not done especially accurately and problem-tree with ite occlusal bite fork, but with the paraocclusal registration aid.

Against this background, according to a further particularly preferred embodiment of the iiethod according to the invention, provision is made that the intermediate adapter of the paraocclusal registration aid is connected, relative to the tooth contact surlaces of the paraocclusal registration aid, adjustably, for example, hy means of a ball joint, to the paraocclusal registration aid. During the •preliminary registration of the jaw hinge, or determination of the hinge axis, this also serves to provide an approximate adjustment of the attachment support arranged on the intermediate adapter, so that minor adjustments only need to be made to the mounting stand in order to bring its mounting stand co-ordinate system into agreement with the lower jaw co-ordinate system of the patient.

Furthermore, this method can also be used in the preliminary stages of determining the hinge axis tor a simple adaptation of the lower jaw adapteron various jaw and skull geometries of different patients, which is of particular importance when a standardised, rigid lower jaw measuring bow is used to determine the hinge axis on the patient.

According to a further, also preferred embodi ment of the method according to the invention, provision is made that the intermediate adapter is separable from the paraocclusal registration aid. To this end, the intermediate adapter comprises a connection support and the paraocclusal registration aid m attachment device complementary in shape to the connection support.

This provides preferably at least two inforehangeabfe intermediate adapters complementary in shape and size to each other as regards the connection support and attachment support wherein the first intermediate adapter simultaneously forms or is connected to the measurement support, that is, for example, to the lower jaw measuring bow, with which the determination of the hinge axis takes place using, for example, a non-contact method, whereas another existing intermediate adapter essentially just provides one attachment support for the occlusal bite fork and one -connection support for the paraocclusal registration aid tor use in step C; )-

This means in other words that the determination ofthe hinge axis aceordingfo this embodiment of the method according to the invente can take place by means of the paraocclusal registration aid in such a way that the paraocclusal registration aid is arranged on the connection support of the first intermediate adapter fortped, for example, as the lower jaw measuring bow, after which the détermination öf the hinge or jaw hinge registration can take place, After this, the first intermediate adapter formé-d; as the lower jaw measuring bow· can be mmoved from the paraoeclusal registration aid and, instead of this, the second intermediate adapter is connected to the paraocciusai registration aid by means of m connection support.

Now the attachment device of the occlusal bite fork can again be armnged - as in step cä} above · on the adaehmeot support of the - in this case two ·· intermediate adapters atul using the occlusal bite fork as a bite support, the bite pattern can be taken from the Wer j$w row of teeth and encoded on the occlusal bite fork, this means. In particular, that the transfer or encoding performed In step ¢.) of the btte pattern fern the paraoeclusal registration aid to the occlusal Hite fork can be carried out without possible errors from the lower jaw measuring bows but - us mg ol the second intermediate adaptor - u ith the high degree of precision -being unaffected.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the method according: to the invention, this involves the attachment of the attachment device of the paraoeclusal registration aid to the connection support of the intermediate adapter by means of the attractive force of a coupling magnet arranged on the connection device or on the connection support in. a magnet connection range, ibis embodiment has the advantage in particular that, by this method, it is possible for the connection device of the paraoeclusal registration aid and the connection support of the mtermcdiaie adapter to lock together largely automatically. Thereby, the locking can take place largely without any additional force, in particular without any external supplementary force am mg on it which would otherwise constitute a source of error due tőibe risk of a consequential loss of adjustment, such as of the ball joint arranged on the paraocdusal registration aid.

Thanks to the magnetically initiated attachment, the action and reaction forces required to lock the connection device and the connection support together cancel each other out exactly, ensuring a highly precise connection between paraoeclusal registration aid and intermediate adapter, or lower jaw measuring how.

The magnetic coupling between the connection des ice of tire paraoeclusal registration aid and the connection support of the intermediate adapter is separated preferably by mos ing the coupling magnet at an angle relative to the main force direction of the magnet - preferably m a direction perpendicular to the main force direction of the magnet - out of the connection range.

This is particularly advantageous in so far as the coupling magnet can he moved in this manner slowly and uniformly with just a minimal force to remove it from the connection range between connection device and connection support. Using this method therefore, the magnetic connection ~ again with a minimal external force effect- can be released carefully but, nevertheless, simply, without resulting in error-inducing reaction forces due to the separation process between paraoeclusal registration aid and intermediate adapter and affecting the precision of the positioning of the paraoeclusal registration aid relative to the lower jaw dental arch.

According to a further pretest! embodiment of the méltód according to the invention, provision is made that the bite support comprises a data store for storing registration data or a data storage device can be arranged on the bile supp« for storing registration data. After eartvina out the jaw binge registration or determination of she hinge axis on the patient, this enables some or ad registration data to fee stored in the bité support’s data store. Then, ill that needs ίο be passed on ίο the dental technician’s laboratory* fer example, is the-bite support with the tooth impression, disposed όή it as the bite patient, together with the data contained in the data storage device, in particular rd.uing to the patient’s hmge as is position.

Using this system, not only the data relating to the patient’s hinge axis position, but more particularly, all data concerning the complete jaw geometry of the patient may he storea; m the: data store of the bite support.. The bite- support with the denial arch impressionfs), taten in Isolation and without any further aids or documents, can constitute a perfect and selt-coivtameO record ofthe complete patient geometry orall data concerning fee jaw geometry. Uns is not only of decisive beneSl forfee imnsfer of jaw geometries to the dental laboratory, ior example, hut it opens up. moreover, but by no means exclusively, new bolds of activity and simplifications important in forensics.

Therefore, just using the bite support with the data storage device arranged in it, the dental technician is able to arrange and cement jaw models of the patient in the mourning stand or m the articulator in fee correct position and orientation. Thus, fee transférant! the passing on ot the data concerning to the geometry of the patient jaw hinge, including the exact hinge axis position, to the dental technician’s laboratory, for example, is simplified and accelerated compared with the prior art to an almost revolutionary degree, wherein sources of error present in the prior art can be reduced or eliminated and, at the same fene, significant expense can be saved also.

Against this background it is even possible to present a mounting aland or articulator fully automatically adjusting itself to the exact jaxv hinge geometry of a patient. A mounting stand or articulator of this type just requires, alongside the attachment support for the bite support and alongside the adjustment, by servo motor for example, of the relative, position between .attachment support and hinge axis, an interface by means of which lhe data contained in the bite-support data storage des tee concerning the jaw hinge geometry and patient's hinge axis position can be read and can be converted into corresponding control instructions for the servo motors of the articulator or mounting stand.

In the dental laboratory, the case cars arise, therefore, where just the bite fork received with the geometry data of the patient stored in it is inserted itt the attachment support of fee mounting stand or articulator, by means of which the mounting stand or articulator on the laboratory able receives and reproduces felly automaiicfely and peclsely fee jaw binge geometry of the patient.

According fe another, especially preferred embodiment of the feeihod according to the invention, in step c) the spatial position fee patient's hinge axis Is determined both in a habitual intercuspation position as weil as ina relative position between upper jaw and lower jaw, therapeutically different from fee habitual position. Bére, the relative therapeutic position can be established, tor example using electronic recording and assessment preferably of the entire motion range: of fee jaw bulge of the patient.

The method according to this embodiment also comprises the additional step g), in which - such as by means ofcentric registration - m upper jaw model of fee patient is positioned relative to the lower jaw model in the mounting stand and the upper jaw model is fixed - such as by cementing » to an upper jaw mounting plate of fee mounting stand. Therefore, in fee first instance the spatial position ol both jaws of the patient, as well as the associated hinge axis pOMtlonyis reproduced exactly in the habitually chosen pisbion in the mounting stand or articulator

Finally, in a ferther step h), the upper jaw mounting plate is moved relatively together with the upper jaw model Irt relation to the lower jaw mounting plate with tie lower jaw modeî until the desired relative therapeutic position: between the rom of teeth of the upper jaw and of the lower jaw is achieved. Ί hi a embodiment of the method according to the invention requires in -he first instance, in other words, that the jaw models of the patient irt the mounting stand or articulator are fixed, such as cemented, in a habitual position determined on the patient. This is followed hr the adjustment of or running up to the relative therapeutic position between upper jaw and lower iaw ikgomtmed or established earl ter. Finally, it can be monitored by computer or visually, requiring an appopriate sensing system, such as a camera and markers, to be arranged on the mounting stand or articulator.

The a&amp;$Unent of the therapeutic position in the mounting stand or articulator can, however, he; carried out also - as provided for according to a further embodiment of the method according to the invention ™ by dirootly running up to the therapeutic relative position established earlier on the patient, such ashy means of a servorttmformdjurtable articulator or mounting stand. In this case it Is not necessary for a registration device to be arranged specifically on the mounting stand or articulator again lor visually checking as the relative therapeutic position is approached.

Thanks to this embodiments of the method according to the invention, the relative therapeutic positions important in most cases of the upper jaw and lower jaw can also be created exactly and reproducible In a mounting stand or articulator. Because of this, it is possible to carry out final adjustments, for example, to therapeutic registrations, therapeutic bite aids and the like in the laboratory with the greatest and, «Mte Àme #«%ifepoducibie precision. As a result, the scope of the work that remains to be performed In the mouth of the patient itself is reduced to an absolute minimum or even eliminated, winch substantially increases the acceptance by the patient and, simultaneously, can result in sustainable cost reductions. A further embodiment of the method according to the invention provides that the articulator mounting stand is essentially a conventional articulator or constitutes its upper section, This means, in other words, that the mounting stand, in which the positioning of the lower jaw model of the patient relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand takes place using the data about the patient’s hinge axis position relative to the attachment device of the bite support, is substantially Idepteal to an arpculator or simultaneously constitutes the upper section of: the articulator. In this ease, an otherwise necessary exchange of the mounting stand upper section for a specific articulator upper section and, optionally, the separate assembly of articulator hinge boxes after transferring the model and .geometry· to the mounting stand are eliminated^

Tins embodiment of the method according to the invention is realised:, irr the simplest ease, for example, in that an otherwise essentially conventional articulator Can fee titled with m attachment support for accommodating the attachment des ice of a bite pattern, ss herein additional means are provided on the articulator for the displacement, adjustment and fixing of the spatial position of the articulator hinge axis relative to the articulator attachment support.

Tfeurt the bite support can fee fixed simply and directly on the attachment support of the articulator, and the articulât# hinge axis can be attached -- before or afterwards « relative to the articulator attachment device in the same spatial position relative to the articulator hinge axis as that which corresponds to the relative position determined earlier on the patient between bite support; attachment device and patlentA hinge axis,

The Invention aise» concerns a registration system for the hinge-axis-related transfer of a jaw model and jaw geometry of a patient to an articulator mooning stand or articulator. In this, the resist radon system comprises, in a known manner, a jaw adótér with a bite support and a bite pattern arranged on the hire support in the form of ap impression of a row of teeth of the patient. In this arrangement, the bite support of the jaw adapter has an attachment device that can he connected positively, spatially .defined, with: an, attachment support, said attachment device being disposable on the mounting stand in a reproduelMe position relative to the tnouning stand: hmge axis, wherein the mounting stand attachment support is formed to be complementary in shape to the attachment device of the bite support.

According to the invention, the registration system is characterised, however, in that the jaw-adapter is a lower jaw adapter and the bite support is a lower jaw hite support. In this, the lower jaw adapter can be connected to a measurement support to determine the patient's hinge axis relative to the attachment device of the bite support, and the spatial position of the attachment support of the mounting stand is defined relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand and is rep r r »duc i bl y a dj u sta h I e.

Using the registration system according to the invention, in the tirs? instance it is possible I# obtain an accurate localisation of the hinge axis of the patient relative to the lower jaw, of relative to the attachment device of the bite support arranged on the lower jaw row of teeth. In doing so, the patient’s hinge axis position is determined by means of the measurement support attached to it with the lower jaw adapter using the known measurements and geometry of the measurement support and of its connection:: with the lower jaw adapter.:

From the determination of the hinge axis by means of the registration system:: carried out according to the invention, in the first instance the exact relative spatial relationship between the patient's hinge axis, the hover jaw tooth impression on the bite support and the geometry of the bite support - in particular the auachmcni device of the hue support ~ are known. This relative spatial relationship can be transferred easily then to the mounting stand or articulator with great precision, thanks to the adjustable spatial position of the attachment support of the mounting stand relative to the hinge axis of the mounting stand or articulator while reducing or eliminating sources of error just by arranging the bite support on the attachment support of the mounting stand by means of its attachment, device and adjusting the attachment support of the mounting stand corresponding to the hinge axis position established: on the patient relative to the mounting stand hmge axis.

Advantageously, in doing so, the measurement support has an attachment support complementary in shape to the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter. This method provides a simple, quick and modular form of connection bet ween lower ja w adapter and measurement support. For example, different measurement supports can he used depending on accuracy requirements, or optionally electronic non-contact or mechanical measurement supports and the associated measurement methods can he used in conjunction with the registration system.

According to a preferred embodiment ol the invention, the lower jaw bite support is formed as an occlusal impression tray, wherein the occlusal impression tray comprises an occlusal bite fork to capture the tooth impression or bite pattern of the patient as well as a releasable sleeve connected to the bite fork.

This: enables^ &amp;: bite:pattern to he created and, if necessary, ihe jaw hinge can be registered such that bite: fork and sleeve in: the first instance are connected: together, for example, plugged together. As a result, as the bite pattern is being produced, the impression compound which is still' m the paste-like state is effectively prevented írom flowing away sideways. Once the easting compound has hardened, however, the sleeve can be separated from the bite fork, Using this method, the bite pattern now disposed on the bite fork in the form of the hardened casting compound is easily and openly accessible from all sides and can be worked on or trimmed.

According to an alternative embodiment ol the invention, the tower jaw bite support is formed as a paraoeclusai registration aid, wherein the attachment device ol the bite support is connected, by pneans of an articulated device formed preferably us at bait joint, with the tooth contact, .surface bflfter :bie support:,

The background to this embodiment is that, by using the registration systems according: to the invention, the relative relationship between the patient's hinge axis and the attachment: device of the lower jaw adapter should be determined and transferred to the mounting stand. In doing do, it is advantageous if the attachment device of the lower jaw adapter relative to the tooth, contact surfaces of the lower jaw adapter is presented early to the patient near enough to the standard position of the attachment device with respect to the hinge axis neutral position of the nmnnimg stand that minor adjustments only need io be made to the mounting stand later to bring the mounting stand hinge axis into congruence with the patient’s hinge axis.

Turthennore, this method can be used to adapt the lower jaw adapter simply to various jaw and skull geometries of different patients. This is of particular importance when a standardised lower jaw measuring how anchor a paraocclusul registration aid is used to determine the patient’s hinge axis, since otherwise in this case - that is, without an adjustable attachment device ft would be difficult to vary the position of the lower jaw measuring bow relative to the dental arch of the lower jaw, or relative to the lower jaw of the patient, and, therefore, to roughly adjust the lower jaw measuring bow before measuring.

According to a particularly preferred eotboditsent of the invention, the measurement support is formed as a lower jaw measuring bow with marker elements for the non-contact determination of position, w herein the marker elements are also arranged close to the jaw hinge.

This method facilitates the registration system on the one hand by using several markers respectively arranged, for example, on both sides of the jaw hinge on the lower jaw measuring bow with a comparatively large gap - which, therefore, forms a highly accurate measurement basts - to determine the hinge axis of the patient with a high degree of precision. On the other hand, with this arrangement near tie jaw hinge of the measuring bow markers, some additional reference markers can be arranged also near the jaw hinge on the skull of die patient for determining the reference plane and/or tor capturing and eliminating by metrological means the skull movements of the patient, and the measuring how markers as well as the reference markers can each be captured with the same measuring device.

This rheans, in other words, that, according to this embodiment of the invention, it is possible to obiam a complété spatial capture of the position and orientation of the measuring: bow rand therefore also of the -pattern’s hinge axis), as wed as simultaneously capturing the skull-related reference plane and of the patient reference angle as well eliminating hv metrological means the skull movements of the patient, just by using two measuring systems, such as image recording cameras, directed towards die region of the two jaw hinges. A particularly preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the mounting stand has electro-mechanical aerators, such äs servo motors. ferftwviag the attachment support arranged on the mounting'stand relative to the lines joining the mounting stand hinge points. In this way. it h possible, for example- by displacing tie attachment support or the hinge sockets of the mounting stand appropriately relative to % mounting plate of the mounting stand, fe accurately reproduce the hinge axis position determined on the patient on the mounting stand or articulator in a largely mechanised or automated manner.

According to a further embodiment of the registration system according to the invention as an alternative to the example of servo motorisation of the mounting stanch provision is made that the mounting stand attachment support, serving to accommodate the attachment device ofthc hite support, is formed by an attachment support of a lower jaw transfer how that can be disposed on the mooning stand in a defined spatial position relative to the hinge aids of the mounting stand. Hete, the lower Jaw transfer bow comprises two axis marker elements, such as axis marker points, for the purpose of the spatially defined placement of the lower jaw transfer bow on the mounting stand.

Furthermore, the lower jaw transfer bow has an -attachment support, stmulaneously forming the mounting stand attachment support, for the attachment device of the Mfe support, wherein the relative spatial position between the: straight line connecting the axis marker elements; and the attachment device of the lower jaw transfer bow is adjustable on the lower jaw transfer how, and can be brought into agreement with the hinge axis position determined on the patient and ear, be fixed in place on the lower jaw transfer bow.

According to this embodiment, the bite support and lower jaw model are arranged in the mounting stand and tlu. relative *pmial position of the mounting stand attachment support is adjusted relative to the mourning stand hinge axis purely mechanically with the aid of the--fewer jaw transfer bow, such that the axis marker elements of the lower jaw transfer bow are connected to axis position points of the mourning stand arranged on the hinge axis of the mounting stand, or aligned with these axis position points, in other words, this means that, according to this embodiment of the method according to the invention, the relative spatial relationship between the patient's hinge axis and the attachment device of the bite support is encoded mechanically in the form of the relative position ad justed and fixed on the lower jaw transfer bow-· between the axis position points of the lower jaw transfer how and the attachment device of the lower jaw transfer bow on the lower jaw transfer bow. In the process, this encoding ol the Sower jaw transfer bow is performed preferably directly after the determination of the lunge axis, lor example, by moving the murker points of the lower jaw- transfer bow until the marker points on the lower jaw transfer how are aligned with the patient's determined lunge axis. Also, at the same time, the patient-specific reference angle determined on the patient in relation to a skull reference plane can the transferred to the mounting stand, wherein an angle adjustment dement is provided in the region of the marker points of the lower jaw transfer bow, with the help of which the reference angle position of the lower jaw transfer bow on the mounting stand can be checked or adjusted.

Against this background, according to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, provision is made that the lower jaw measuring bow forms the lower jaw transfer bow at the same time. Thus the mechanical transfer of the patient's lunge axis position to the mounting stand or articulator can he performed without exchanging the lower iasv bow using the same lower jaw bow with winch the hinge axis itself of the patient had been determined.

According to a ferthefe especially preferable embodtttfehf of the inVentfon,: the attachment support arranged ou the mounting, stand to attach the bite support is adjustable along a curve-shaped guide device relative to a mounting plate of tiw monnbng stand. Here, ihe TOd-pdiM «£ the :esr?# pointes wit b the mounting stand binge axk m its «©ütni! position, or in its starting position before transfer of jaw geometry of the patient to the mount ing stand.

Thus embodiment of the invention facilitates the exact transfer also ofthe skull reference plane as well as of the patient-specific reference angle to the mounting stand or articulator. Therefore, after transfer of the geometry using the registration system, full articulation in particular also including the entire jaw hinge geometry related to the reference plane, such as, for example, condylar track inclination, Bennett angle, retrusion, protrusion, anchor immediate side shift, can take place. Â, .fehér, preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the lower jaw adapter comprises an occlusal bite fork with an attachment device m a bite support as well as a paraocelusal registration aid. Ih this, the paraoeelnsal registration aid also has an intermediate adapter with an attachment support for the attachment device of the occlusal hits fork. With this embodiment it is possible ihr the patient’s hinge axis to fee determined now simply by using the paraoeclusa! registration aid, which results in the especially precise and problem-tree determination of the patient’s hinge axis position without interfering with the occlusion of the patient. Following the determination of the patient's hinge axis performed with the paraoeefosa! registratiop aid it fo then possible ~ fey means of the; intermediefe: adapter ~ to transfer the bite pattern as well as the spatial information determined in relation to the patiente hinge axis position relative to the paraocelusal registration aid to the occlusal bite fork. At the same time, an impression of the row of teeth of the lower jaw is produced on the occlusal bite fork.

This means, in other words, that, in the case of this embodiment, the relative spatial position, derived during the determination of the patient's hinge axis, between the patient's hinge axis and the paraoeclusa! registration aid by means of a defined positive connection between the paraoeclusa! registration aid and the occlusal bite fork using the intermediate adapter-is applied also the attachment device ofthe occlusal bite fork. In this process, the relative spatial position of the lowepjaw dental arch of the patient is also encoded on the occlusal bite fork,

Accordingly, in ibis case also, tbe occlusal bite fork constitutes the bite support, on which, as information carrier using the teeth impression as the hite pattern, the relative spatial position, existing during the determination of the hinge axis, between patientfe hinge axis and attachment support ofthe infermediate adapter, is precisely encoded or stored.

Preferably in this case, the intermediate adapter Ofthe paraoeclusa! registration aid relative to the tooth contact surtaces of the paraoeclusa! registration aid is arranged on the paraoeclusa! rcglsmatfen aid preferably by means of a ball joint: so that it is adjustable. in this manner, by appropriately udjushng the ball joint, the paraocclusal registration aid can be adapted easily to various jaw and skull geometries of different patients ! his is particularly important if a standardised jaw measuring bow is used to determine the patient's hinge axis, since, without an adjustable attachment device. H would be hardis possible to vary the position of the lower jaw measuring how relative to the dental arch ofthe lower jaw or relative to the lower jaw ofthe patient* and therefore to approximately adjust the lower jaw measuring bow ahead of measuring.

In doing $0«. preferably the: intepnedMe adapter la separable tom the paraocclusal registration aid, wherein the intermediate adapter has a connection support and die paraocclusal registration aid lias a connection device complementary in shape io the connection support. It is particularly preferable if the registration system also has at least two intermediate adapters which are interchangeable. Thus, the first intermediate adapters simultaneously forms the measurement support, the lower jaw measuring howi, for example, for the preferably non-contact defonmoatfon of the hinge axis, m poasmly connected to it

In eontrast, a second intermediate adapter constitutes essentially just an attachment support for the occlusal bite fork as well as a connect ion support lor the garaoec fosai registration aid.

This emhödmtcM. in other words, enables the patient's hinge axis to be determined in the first instance by means of the paraocclusal registration aid such that the paraocclusal registration aid is arranged on the connection support of the first intermediate adapter formed, for example, as the lower jaw measuring bow. Iben the first intennediaie adapter formed as the lower jaw measuring bow can be removed írom the paraocclusal registration aid and instead the second intermediate adapter is connected to the paraocclusal registration aid by its connection: support.

Again, at the: g^nc time, the attachment device of the occlusal bite fork can be arranged on the attachment support of the second intermediate adapter and. using the occlusal bite fork as bite support, the bite pattern can be taken from the low er jaw rosy of teeth and encoded on the occlusal bite fork.

This means in particular, that the bite pattem can be transferred or encoded from the paraoeclosal registration aid to the occlusal bite fork without creating any possible disturbance of the lower jaw measuring bow. while still maintaining high precision by means of the second miertnediate adapter corresponding in shape to the first intermediate adapter.

According to a particularly preferred embodiment of the registration system according to the irw oution, in this the connection dev ice of the paraocclusal registration aid or the connection support of the intermediate adapter comprises a coupling magnet arranged In a magnet connection range to couple the connection device with the connection support

This embodiment provides the advantage that, using this method. It Is possible for the connection device of the paraocclusal registration aid and the connection support of the intermediate adapter 1er lock together largely aufoofebcaify. Thereby, the locking can take place largely without any additional force* in particular without any external supplementary three acting on it, since the latter would otherwhsc eonstituie a source of error due to the risk of consequential mafobjustment, such as of the bail joint arranged on the paraocclusal registration aid.

Thanks to the magnetically initiated attachment, the action and reaction forces recjuired to lock the connection device and the connection support together cancel each other out exactly, ensuring a highly precise connection between paraocclusal registration aid and intennediaie adapter or lower jaw measuring bow. in order to separate the magnetic coupling between the connection device of the paraocclusal registration aid and the connection support of the intermediate adapter, according io a further preferred émhodimeM öf the registration system according to the invention, provision is made that the coupling magnet is movable at an angle relative to the main force direction of the magnet, preferably In a direction perpendicular to the main force direction of the magnet, out of die connection range.

This is particularly advantageous in so for m the: coupling mapot can be moved in this manner with: a minimal force to remove it front the connection range between connection device and connection support, fosing this method*#® magnetic connection - again with a minimal external force effect ~ can be released, without resulting in error-irid u cing reaction forces due to die separation process between paraocclusal registrat ion aid and intermediate adapter and affecting the precision of the positioning of

Ilié; praqççlfsal registration aid relative to the lowerjaw denial áréit.

According to a further preferred embodiment of toe registration system according to the invention, provision is made drat the bite sng|ioft comprises a data store for storing registration data, or a data storage device can fee arranged on foe hie support for storing registration data. Alter carrying out the pw hinge registration or deterfolnatton of the hinge axis on the patient, this enables some or all registration data, to be stored in the bile support’s data attire. Then, all that needs to be passed on to the dental technician’s laboratory, tor example, is the bite support with the tooth impressions disposed on it as the bite pattern, together hath the data contained in the data storage devices, In particular about the patient’s hinge axis position.

Therefore, just using the content of the bite support x%ith the data storage device arranged m it, the dental technician is able to arrange jaw models of the patient in the mounting stand or in the articulator in the correct position and orientation. Thus, the transfer and the passing on of the data concerning the geometry of die patient jtnv lunge to the dental technician, for example. Is simplified and accelerated compared with the prior an to an almost revolutionary degree At the same time, sources of error .present in she prior ml are reduced or eliminated and significant expense may be sated also.

Using this system, not only the data relating to the patient’s hinge axis position, but, more particularly, ail data concerning the complete jaw geometry of the patient may be stored in the data store of the hue support. The bite support with the dental arch impression^), taken in isolation and without any further aids or documents, can constitute a perfect and self-contained record of the complete patient geometry or all data concerning the jaw geometry. This is not only of decisive benefit for the transfer of jaw geometries to the dental laboratory, for example, but it opens up, moreover, but by no means exclusively, new fields of activity and slmpllfeearions important in forensics.

According to a further enfoodiment of the mgiiimtion system according to the invention, the articulator mounting stand is a mtfofied, though in Other respects essentially conventional articulator or an articulator upper section. This means m other words, that the mounting stand, in which the positioning of the lower jaw model of the patient relative to the bingo axis of the mounting stand takes place using the data concerning the patient’s hinge axis position relative to the attachment device offne bite support, is identical In essence to an articulator, or that the mounting stand at the same time constitutes the upper section of this articulator, in this case, an otherwise necessary exchange of the mounting stand upper section for a specific articulator upper section and, optionally, foe separate assembly of articulator hinge boxes after translerrlng foe mode! and geometry to the mottntlng stand are eliminated.

This embodiment of the registration systems according to invention Is reaiaed, in the simplest case, tor example, in that an otherwise essentially conventional articulator can fee fitted with an attachment support for accommodas ing the attachment device of a bite pattern, wherein additional means are provided to the articulator for the displacement, adjustment and Using offne relative spatial position of the articulator hinge axis relative to foe articulator uundtmem support (or vice versafe

According to further· preferred embodiments of foe imemion these dsspl<iu.*tnem means can Involve, for example, articulator hinges, or articulator lunge sockets movable manually or by serso motor relative: to an articulator mounting plate. T bus, the bite: support can; be fixed simply and directly on the attachment support of the articulator, and the articulator Tinge axis can be attached., before or afterwards, relative to the articulator attachment device in the same relative spatial position to the articulator rntachmern, device as that which eortesponds to the relative position, determined earlier ón the paiient between bite support attachment device asi patient's hinge axis.

This disclosure further concents a connection device for the releasable attachment of a jaw adapter to a measurement support or to an intermediate adapter, in particular for jaw hinge registration. The measurement support can involve in particular a measuring bow for non-contact jaw registration, the intermediate adapter being provided in particular with an associated bite support for the attach.ment. of the jaw adapter, I-urtitermore, the connection device is characterised m that it. comprises a coupling magnet arranged in a magnet connection range to couple the connection device with the connection support. Preferably, m doing so. the coupling magnet is mos able at an angle relative to the main force direction of the magnet, preferably in a direction perpendicular to the main force direction ol the magnet out of die connection range in order to separate the connection device from the connection support .

The magnetic connection device has, in particular, the advantage that, by using this, it is possible to loch the jaw adapter to she measurement support or to the intermediate adapter together largely automatically. Thereby,, 'the locking can take place practically without any additional force, in paro..dar on ho,;; ,m\ everna! fowe awing on it which nun eliminate sources of error leading to accidental loss of adjustment.

The separation of the magnetic coupling between the connection device and the Connection support, for example, of the intermediate adapter or measurement support by moving the coupling magnet; away at an angle relative to the main force direction of the magnet - preferably in a direction perpendicular to the main force direction of the magnet - and out of the connection range is particularly advantageous insofar as this allows the coupling magnet to be removed temporarily out of Reconnection range with minimal force

Using this method;, the magnetically initiated or maintained connection: - again with a .minimal external force effect- can fee released very easily without resulting in errordriduemg reaction forces due to the separation process.

Finally, Ä disclosure concerns a bile support for producing ä feite pattern of a patient used in particular for registering thejasv hinge ami transferring the model. According to the invention, the bite support is characterised in that it is formed as an occlusal impression tray, wherein the occlusal impression tray comprises an occlusal bite fork to capture a bite pattern, as wed as a releasable sleeve connected to the bite fork to support the bite patterns.

This enables the bite pattern, to be created - ami, if necessary, the jaw hinge can fee registered — such that hite fork and sk-.n e in the first instance are connected together, for example, plugged together. As » result, as the bite pattern is being prod nt cd, the unptes-oou compound which is Oil! in the paste-hke state is prevented írom flowing away sideways. Once the impression eompound has hardened, however, the sleeve can fee separated from foe bite fork. Using this method, the bite pattern now disposed on the bite fork in the form of the hardened impression compound is easily and openly accessible from all sides and can be worked on, such as trimmed.

The invention is explained in detail feelow simply with the aid of examples of emhod iments.

They show in:

Mg, I thé lower jaw adapter with paraoeelusai regiíÉraiöíí; aid, occlusal bite fork and measuring bow of an embodiment of a registration sptem according to the invention in an isometric view;

Fig. 2 an iiJu^Mioä.^oÄspc^mgto· fig* 1. of the paraoeolttaal fogisiratiort aid as in 1¾ I with an associated connection device;

Mg, 2 an illustration corresponding to Fsg, I and 2 of the lower jaw adapter and treasuring bow of a forther cniiodiment of a registration system according to the invention;

Mg, 4 an illustration corresponding to Figures 1 to J of the tower jaw adapter ásni nmasuring; bow according to m 3 in another view;

Fig.S a perspective enlarged view of the connection device of the lower jaw adapter according to

Fig«res 3 and 4;

Fig, b an illustration corresponding to M# B of the connection device according to Fig, 5;

Fig. 7 m illustration Írom above corresponding to Figures 5 and: § the connection device according to Fig, 5 and fk

Fig, h a diagrammatic perspective; Illustration of the lower jaw adapter and measuring bow according to Mg, 3 and 4 without the housing of the magnet connection device;

Fig, § an illustration arid view corresponding to Fig, 8 of the magnet: connection device for the lower jaw adapter according to Mg. 8;

Fig, It ah: illustration and \ lew corresponding to Fig. 8 and 9 of the lower jaw adapter according to Figures 3 to 7 \s about the housing of the magnet connection device;

Fig, tl an isometric Illustration corresponding to Fig, 1 of the measuring bow and occlusal hite fork according io Fig, i with bite support sleeve, ready for occlusal registration;

Fig, 12 ah illustration and view corresponding to Figures Î and 11 of the bite support according to Figures l and II. and its transfer to a mounting stand;

Fig. 13 an illustration and view corresponding to Figures I and 11 of the measuring bow and paraoeelusai registration aid according; to Figures 1 and 2, ready for paraoeelusai registration;;

Fig, 14 an illustration and view corresponding to Figures .1, 11 and 13 of the measuring bow, occlusal bite fork and paraoeelusai registration aid, as a bite pattern; is transferred írom tbe paraoeelusai registration aid to the occlusal bite fork;

Mg, 15 an illustration arid view Corresponding to Figures 1, il, 13 and 14 of the Intermediate adapter, occlusal bite fork and; paraoeelusai registration aid, as a bite pattern Is transferred from the paraoeelusai mgistmtion aklfo thf occlusal bhe fork;

Fig. M an illustration and view eorresponding to Figures IS of the bite support according to Figures 1, I !, 12,14 and 15;

Fig* :17 an isometric frontal Illustration o:Fa mounting stand of Sn entbodiment of a registration systems according to theinveniiap;; and Μ a rear view ijfnsir ation corresponding to fig, 17 of the mounting stand according to Fig, 17,

Fig, 1 shows so isometric iilushration ofa lower jaw adopter I withaparaocciusal registration aid2, an oeelusal bite fork 3 and a measuring how 4 tor an enshodÄeut of a registration systems according to the Invention^ Fig. 2 shows the paraoeeIusât registration aid 2 according to Fig, 1 with the associated connection device 5 shown separately for Improve# YÍsÉílly as well as the associated hall joint also separated.

In this, the paraoeelusal 'registration aid 2 serves to connect the lower jaw adapter 1 m this ease comprising the connection device 5, intermediate adapter 6 and paraoeelusal registration aid: 2 as : welt as the measuring how 4 arranged here on the lower jaw adapter I by means of the intermediate adapter 6 with the measuring markers 7 for the purpose of registering the jaw hinge by non-contact meansand determining the hinge axis with the dental arch {not shown ιοί the louer jaw oi a patient.

Thus, using the connection of the paraoeelusal registration aid 2 to the dental arch of the tower jaw of the patient, a defined to atnc -spamf îclatio amp in «reduced between the dental arch of the lower jaw, the patient's hinge axis 8 of the patient spatially associated with this dental arch, the lower jaw adapter 1 and the measuring bow 4 with the measuring markers

If a? the lower jaw of the patient moves, the position of the patient’s hinge axis S relative to the measuring markers 7 is now determined using, for example, non-contactdetermination of the patient's hinge axis by means of optical image tracking and digital Image processing of the images of the measuring markers 7, the spatial position of the patient's binge axis 8 in the first instancerelabvetothe measuring markers ? and therefore also to the measuring bow 4 is then known. However, the measuring bow 4 has a geometry that is also known, as well as known dimeustons wherein the measuring how 4 is spatially defined exactly - by the intermediate adapter 6 - in the first instance with the lower jaw adapter ! as well as, furthermore, being connected to an attachment support 9 on the upper side, as drawn, of intermediate adapter 6. ágain, the occlusal bite fork 2,: also defined spfialy precisely, is attached by its attachment device 1Θ to the lower jaw adapter I to connect to the attachment support 9. litis means in other words, thaf following non-contact determination of the hinge axis, the spatial: position of the patient's hinge axis 8 relative to all components of the lower jaw adapter I, and, at the san^e time, in particular also relative to the attachment support 9 on lower jaw adapter I, is known. After determination rtf the hinge axis, therefore, by means of its attachment device 10, the occlusal bite fork 3 can be connected to the attachment support 9 of the lower jaw adapter 1, still in an unchanged position on the lower jaw dental arch of the paient by means of the paraoeelusal registration aid 2, wherein, simultaneously, an impression of the lower jaw row of teeth of the patient Is created in easting compound (not shown) applleilo the underside of the occlusal bite ibrik 3.

After this, therefore, both the relati ve spatial position of the lower jaw row of teeth of the patient :(by means of ihc Impression of the patient's lower jaw stored by the casting compound on the occlusal bite fork 3) as well as the relative spatial position the padent’s hinge axis 8 (by meatus of the geometrically defined line from the measuring markers 7 across the measuring bow 4. the Intermediate adaptor 6, and the attachment support: 9 to: the: attachment device 10} are known relative to the occlusal bite hack 3:. hi other words, this means that all information needed to reproduce the patient's hinge axis position rdarive to the lower jaw dental arch is now encoded simph in relation to the lower jaw bite fork 3, Thus, by using the data determined regarding the spatial position of the patient's hinge axis relative to the lower jaw bite fork 3 or to its attachment support 10, the absolute spatial poptfep of the hinge axis 8 can be readily and exactly reproduced in any given absolute spatial position of rfo>; .fewer jaw bite fork., or in any given spatial position of the attachment device II of the lower jaw- bite fork 3.

This relationship applies in particular also if the lower jaw bie fork 3 is arranged, by means of Its attachment device Ifi, oh,: for example, a corresponding attachment support of an articulator or articulator ntoonimg stand, ds iilustrafod, for example, in Figures 12,17 and 18. As soon as the lower jaw bite fork with the bite pattern disposed orr it in the form of the teeth impressions is connected, therefore, with the articulator or mounting stand by connecting its attachment device 10 to the attachment support of the artlettlMof or mounting stand, it is thus possible, using the measured data about the spatial position of Éepatientfo hinge axis relative to the attachment support; it) of the lower jaw bite fork 8, to speedy the exact spatial position of the patient's hinge axis 8 in the artiedlator or mounting stand also and can be reproduced accordingly in the mounting stand.

Figures 3 and 4 each show essentially the lower jaw adapter and tbs measuring bow of a further omfrrdiment of a registration systems according to the invention in an isometric illustration of tbs view m Figures I and 2. In doing so, lor the sake of better visibility, both the support angle arranged on the measuring bow 4 with the measuring markers 7 disposed on it as well as the tooth contact surface of the paraoeclusai registration aid .? according to Fig, 1 arc omitted or not shown in the illustrations in Figures 3 and 4,. in contrast .to Figures ! and 2, m Figures 3 and 4 the sleeve 11 placed as an addition on the occlusal bite fork 3 can now be seen. As a bite impression of the particular row^offoeth of the patient is being made, the sleeve 11 prevents the casting compound which is ah 11 in ä paste-dike state rom flowing away sideways. Once the easting compound has hardcnedftbesleeve f! can fee separafod lOm the bite fork 3. Next, the bite partem now disposed on the bite fork 3 in the form of the hardened casting compound is easily and openly accessible fern all sides and can fee worked on or trimmen.

The lower jaw adapter 1 shown in Figures 3 and 4 differs in a further respect írom the lower jaw adapter I shown in Fig, 1 in particular fey the design of the intermediate adapter % which serves to couple the occlusal bite fork 3 to the connection device 5 of the paraoeelnsal registration aid 2 foot shown herd and to the measuring bow 4.

In Figures 5 to 10, the connection device 5 Is again shown enlarged - and, in dőltig so, in each of Figures 8 and 10 the intermediate adapter 6 coupled to the connection dev ice 5 also ·· according to the embodiment of the lower jaw adapter i from each of Figures 3 and 4, wherein, in Figures 8 and 1:¾ in order to see the function of the connection device 5 better, the bods 12 of the connection device 5 according to Fig, 9 was hidden. Of particular note itt Figures S to 7 in the first instance is the design of the connection device 5 to connect the paraocclusa) registration aid to tbc intermediate adapter 6 not shown in Figures 5 to 7 as well as the possible mobility, designed as a ball joint 13 vv hh spring damp 14, of the paraoeclusal registration aid relative to the connection device 5. The bail joint 13 serves in particular to provide the rougit manual adjustment of the lower jaw adapter ; with the measuring bow 4 arranged in it during tbc preliminary stages In determining the hinge axis.

In order to obiam the exact spatially designed and reproducible .arrangement and connection of the connection device 5 to the intermediate adapter 6, the connection device 5 illustrated in Figures 5 to 10 also bas in foe first instance two centring points 15 fixed rigidly to the body 12 of the connection des tee. When the conâëeiihn device S and the intermediate adapter #are bômght together, the centring points iS fit Wo· corresponding recesses 16 exactly eoptpfemeptsry in shape on the intermediate adapter 6 (cf. Figures F and 10) and, therefore, provide an exactly reproducible, positive audflay-free „onnecuun between connection device 5 and intermediate adapter <\

The actual securing of the connection between conneeiort device S and intermediate adapter F is done, in this case, by means of a coupling magnet 17 arranged in the connection device 5,.*&amp; corresponding opposing magnet foot shown) made from magnetically active or actlvamhle: material is associated with the coupling magnet ! 7 arranged on connection device 5. said coupling magnet being arranged m a corresponding recess 18 of the intermedMe adapter i, which can be seen in particular hr Figures I and If,

The connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6 can, fins, be connected to each other practically without the need lor external active or reactive forces and ate easily positioned in relation to each other. This is helped by the; opposite attraction between the coupling magnet 17 and the opposing magnet part I S together with the centring points IS of the connection device S and the recesses M arranged in it In the Intermediate adapter 6, such that connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6 can be connected^h^ether nildly and without play in al l three spatial directions. if it is now necessary to unlasten the connection between connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6 again, ihisean be performed, again gently and with practically no reaction forces, thanks to a moving device lor the coupling magnet 17 identifiable in Figures 5 to 1¾ The moving; device comprises a guide pin 19 movable axially to the body II of the connection device S as well as to an operating handle 20 arranged on one axial end of the guide pin IT,. The end of the guide pin if opposite the operating handle 20 is rigidK connected to the coupling magnet. I? of the connection device S. In addition, the coupling magnet 17 ts arranged along the axial direction of the guide pin so that it can move in a corresponding elongated hole 2 i in the body 12 ot the connection oev-ce 5, et. Fig, 6.

In views shown in Figures S to 8 as well as 10, the coupling magnet 17 as located respective!) in its starting position, in which the coupling magnet 17 is positioned exactly on the opposing magnet part 18 of the intermediate adapter 6, as long as the connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6 hear against each other. In order to separate the magnetic connection between connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6, the coupling magnet 17 can now be renamed by operating the guide pin If through extracting the operating handle 20 out of the body 12 of the connection novice a perpendicular, to the main magnetic force direction out of the connection range, that is. from its position on the opposmg magnet part 18 ofthe Mermediate adapter 6. This withdrawal of the coupling magnet 17 out of the connection range perpeudieofar to fife main magnetic force direction requires just a comparatively minimal as well as an almost uniform actuation force through a long, linear actuation park

Separation of the magnetic connection between connection device 5 and intermediate adapter 6 can he achieved, therefore, without almost no reactive forces, thanks to the moving device 19, 20 for the coupling magnet ! 7, but only il a comparatively strong coupling magnet 17 is used which could only be removed along the main magnetic force direction from sis position on tue opposing magnet part 18 of the intermediate adapter 6 by applying strong, separation forces.

In particular, this method can he used to separate the Intermediate adapter 6 from the connection device 5 also by means of the smallest actuating forces applied to the operating handle as long as the connection device 5 is still connected to the patient’s row of teeth by means of the paraoedusaf registration aid 2. This avoids the situation where removal oi the intermediate adapter 6 and of the measuring bow 4 connected, for exmfegie, will it fern foe connection device 5 of she paraocclusal registration aid % jisilb jp wdéáiMWf distortions it foe Äet positioning of the paraocclusal .registration aid 2 and of the eonoeetum device $ rfefoive to the dental arch and jaw of the patient, figares .1.1 and Í 2 portray, Itt a highly diagrammatic manner, the course taken during the transfer of foe jaw hinge ponsetry, in particular the pattern’s binge axis position, to the ocdusaí bile fork 3 for the purposes of occlusal registration. Occlusal registration invoke? use of the same occlusal bite fork. 3 both for the detenpination of the binge axis position accordingfo Fig, 11 ~ using the measuring bow 4 with the measuring markers 7 - as welt as for the transfer of the geometry to demounting stand 22 or articulator according to Fig, 12.

In doing so, according to Fig, 11 first the spatial position of the patient’s h inge axis I relative to the oeelhsal bite fork 3, in particular relative to the attachment device 10 of the bite fork 3. is determined by non-contact or optica! means, as described above, using ofthe measuring bow 4 with the measuring markers 7 arranged on it Following the registration of the jaw hinge, or determination of t!m patient’s lunge axis, the bite fork 3 can then be mounted, with the lower jaw teeth Impression (not shown) arranged on it as the bite pattern, together with the associated data set; describing the relative spatial position of the patient’s hinge axis 8 relative to foe attachment device If! of the bite fork 3, in a corresponding articulator or mounting stand 22 according in Fig, 12. 1¾ is portrayed in Fig. 12 by using a dotted line to represent the position of the paitenfs hinge axis 8 in the in mounting stand 22 illustrated In F%. 12. It can he seen that, in foe Illustrated neufral posiiion of the attachment support 23 and hinge socket 24 of the mounting stand 22, the actual position of the patient’s hinge axis 8 (dotted line) does not coincide with the hinge axis 25 of the mounting stand 22 (dashed line),

Si?$ce die relative spatial position between the attachment device 10 of the bite fork 3 and the hinge axis 8 of the patient is known exactly, however, írom the registration of the jaw binge done earlier, this relative spatial positron between the attachment device 10 of the bite fork 3 - or between the attachment support 23 of the mounting stand 22 connected to the attachment device 10 ~ and the mounting stand binge axis 25 can he reproduced also exactly on the mounting stand 22 by appropriate adjustment of foe mounting stand 22,

This means in other words, that simply by arranging the bite fork 3 with foe teeth Impression arranged on it as the bite pattern, taking Into account foe data about the patient’s hinge axis position, and by appropriate- adjustment of foe mounting stand 22 orardculator, foe exact jaw binge geometry cap be produced in the mounting stand 22 or articulator.

[.ike the depictions in Figures 11 and 12, Figures 13 to 16 portray foe course of the transfer of foe jaw hinge geometry, in particular the patient's hinge axis position 8 on ihe occlusal bite fork 3, hut in this case, only for paraocclusal registration, in the paraoeelasa! registration, firstly it is not the occlusal bite fork 3 which is used as before to deters-tine the patient’s hinge axis position 8 as 1rs Fig. 13 but the paraocclusal registration aid 2 ~ again using the measuring bow 4 with the measuring marker 2. This has the advantage 1st particular that, as registration is being performed, there is no interference of any kind with the natural occlusion of the patient .

Thus, according to Fig. 1¾ after the spatial position the patienfs: hinge axis I relative to the paraocclusal registration aid 2 is determined, Ibis spatial geometric information still has to be transferred to the occlusal bite fork 3. This transfer of the jaw hinge geometry from foe paraocclusal registration aid 2 to fee occlusal lute fork 3 is done as shown in Fig, 14or min Ffg. IS.

The difference between the procedure portrayed m Fig. 14 and in 1¾ IS U only that the geometry transfer according to Fig. 14 is performed while the intermediate adapter 6 with dite measuring bow 4 arranged on it is still arranged on the connection device % whereas, in the case öltbe geometry transfer according to Fig. 15. the intermediate adapter 6 with the measuring low 4 arranged on it was first removed front the connection device 5 of the paraocdusal registration aid 2;. 1 it us, m the ease of the procedure portrayed by Fig. 15, a further intermediate adapter 2d, complementary In shape to the first intermediate adapter 6, together with the occlusal bite support 3 arranged op it, is arranged on the connection device 5 of the paraocdusal registration aid 2, which can take place again automatically and. therefore, practically free from externa) forces, thanks In the magnetically miilMed magnet connection 17, 18 between intermediate adapter 13 and connection dev me 5.

At fie same time as this, in addition to the impression arranged Äthp|^raocci'öMT.#|Äälkm aid % a ferther impression of the dental arch of the lower jaw Is produced in the lower side m casing compound (not shown) arranged on the occlusal bite fork 3. Since the production of this impression ~ using the connection of the occlusal bite Auk 3 by the attachment device 10 and the attachment support 9 of the intermediate adapter 6 or 26 - again takes place by the precisely defined and known relative geometric position of the occlusal bite fork..3 relative to the patient's hinge axis 8. the same result is obtained with Fig, -Mas described before by means of the illustration in Figures II and 12,

According to Fig. 16, this means, in other words, that, aier the geometry transfer tom the paraocclnsal registration aid 2 to the occlusal bite fork 3 according to Figures 14 or Fig, IS ·· taking into account the data about, the spatial position# the gattenfshmge axis t relative to the attachment device 10 of the occlusal bite fork 3 - again the mike geometric mfermafton regarding fheMnge axis position of the patient can be reproduced, just using the mounting of the occlusal bite fork 3 with the bite partem and the patienFs hinge axis data set arranged on it. in a mounting stand 22 or articulator with a corresponding attachment support, e£ fig, if.

Finally, Figures 17 and 18 Illustrate the mounting stand 22, shown already in Fig. II, tor reproducing the jaw binge geometry, meludmg an; oeefusal bite fork 3 arranged already in the mo untmg stand 22, shown again In isometric front and; rear views, it can be seen that the occlusal bite ihrk 3 can be arranged by means of is attuehment; device I f to a corresponding attachment support 23 of the mounting stand 22 and can he secured by u knurled screw 27. I n doing so, the attachment support 23 of the mounting stand Is arranged on the mounting stand 22 corresponding in shape to the attachment support 9 of the lower jaw adapter I or of the intermediate adapter 6, 2b and thus provides an exact, spatially defined and reproducible arrangement of the occlusal bite fork 3 in the mounting stand 22.

Since, as described above, after determination of the hinge axis, the .spatial position of the patient's hinge axis 8 relative to the occlusal bite fork 8 or relative to die attachment device 10 of the occlusal bite fork 3 is known, the spatial hinge axis position in the mounting stand 22 relative to the attachment support 23 of the mourning stand can he co-ordinated exactly with the hinge axis 8 of tire patient. in order to achieve this, the hinge sockets 24 of the illustrated articulator mounting stand 22 can be moved in all three spatial directions by means of corresponding parallel guides 28 and secured in the desired position.

To do this, the hinge sockets 24 can be sttoyedeomesponding to the: data determined;earlier about the patient's hinge axis position 8 relative to the attachment device I d of the oeetusai bite lurk 3 or to tie attachment support 23 of the mounting stand, by, but by uumeans exelustvely, means of appropriate measuring seafes inorshowul arranged on tie pafféi guides 28- of tie mooning stand,:

Equally well, the mounting stand 22, or an appropriately designed articulator replacing the mounting stand, can ásó le flíed, fór example, with servo möför-driven moving devices for the corresponding displacement of tie hinge sockets 24 in the required spatial dimensions. In a ease of this type, it is sunply sufficient fór the corresponding data to be entered into a control device for the servo motor-driven moving devices of the mounting stand 22 or articulator to allow the latter to automatically pmcisely receive the jaw linge geometry of the patient, in particular in relation to the spatial hinge axis position 8;. lil tn addition, the mounting stand 22 or articulator is equipped with a data interface and the occlusal bite support 3 is equipped in addition with a data storage device to store the geometry data of the jaw hinge as well as a data interface also, then die geometry data can he transferred fully automatically tforn the oeelusäi bite support 3 to a servo motor-driven mounting sumd 22 or articulator. In this case, it is ámpíy'peeessasy fo still arrange the occlusal hue support. 3 in the mounting stand 22 or articulator, after which the Mounting stand 22 or articulator automatically reads off the data about the jaw hinge geometry from the data storage device of the occlusal bite supptari 3 and then reproduces exactly and also folly automatically the jaw· hinge geometry by movements aided by servo motor.

As can also be seen from Figures 1? and 18, tic; attachment support 23 arranged ou tie mounting stand 22 for attaching the bite support can be moved along a guide device 2d curs cd relative to the base plate of the mounting stand 22, In this, the midpoint of the curve formed by the guide device 22 coincides with the mounting stand hinge axis 25 (of. ügy 1.2) in its neutral position or m its parting position before transfór of the jaw geometry of the panent to mountirtg stand.

Using this method, the skull reference plane as well as the patienPspeeilk reformed angle also determined earlier on the patient can be transferred to the mounting stand 22 or articulator. Thus, following the transfor according to the invention of the jaw litige geometry, full articulation .in particular can take place also including the jaw hinge geometry related to the reference plane, such as, for example, condylar track inclination, Bennett angle, retritsionfprotruslotq andfot Immediate side shi ft. etc..

In summary, it Is dear, therefore, that, by using the invention, the technology of the btnge- axts>'r©iated transfer of jaw models Is improved, expanded and, at the same time, simpfiied: decisively, In doing so, the Invention facilitates both high quality nmduiarisation, considerably simplified and accelerated application as well as particularly high precision in the determination and transfer of the jaw hinge geometry of a pattern, to a mourning stand or articulator. Simultaneous!), sources of error are svstenuuieally eliminated, the equipment cost is reduced substantial!) and; the effect of the equipment on the patient is minimised,:

Thus, the Invention provides a contribution, which can only fee described as ground-breaking, to the improvement of jaw hinge registration and to the transfer of jaw hinge geometries and jaw monels &amp;l the patient to a mounting stand or articulator

Claims (4)

PROCEDURE AND EQUIPMENT FOR TRANSMISSION OF A STAFF TO A SUSPENSION UNIT Patent ApplicationManufacture 1, Tailorfire A jawbone-to-jawbone-to-jawbone-to-axle adapter <', t to a fuser mounting position 122g mneiy renuelke / tk with an art-cylindrical hinge axle (25) , where the jaw adapter * 1) has a bite-to-pinch ("hite .support" "* has a hnrupűsme, and an interconnected device! (which is connected to the bite carrier -: 3), which device has a formative connection, can be formed by a coupling-trigger element (23), which can be arranged in the sensing position {22}, an adjustable, repRX can be arranged in relative position to the mounting hinge groove (25), and the boiler complements the Coupling device (0), wherein the process comprises the following steps: a) arrangement of the impression material; the jaw adapter (1) on a member-contacting surface, b) using the impression material, connecting the jaw adapter (1) to the main port of the patient's jaw, an impression of the denture in the impression material; c; t the jaw joint (d) linking the bite-carrier (3) to the patient's jaw-mode by means of the printout, which is located on the so-called lenyornaiartyaghan with the pellet carrier i3). e) Arrangement of the bite-carrying fi) and jaw model in the assembly! coupling (ás0) of the coupling device (Î0) in the spade (22) to the bite carrier (23) and adjusting the relative spatial position of the fitting assembly (23) to the hinge shaft (25) of the mounting station (22) relative to the relative spatial position that is the line of registration), the strain tension axis 8 8> and the jaw adapter (!) between the coupling device (10) until the match is reached by the patient ·· hinge shaft ( hl and mounting-to-hinge axle «251; fastening the lower jaw model to the lower jaw mounting plate (22) of the mounting stand (22), characterized in that the jaw adapter (1) is a lower pin [clip-on adapter; the crankshaft (8) defines the spatial positions in step c) relative to the staple adapter adapter i.1); the bite carrier (3) is a lower jaw barrel. which is connected in steps d) and e) to a lower jaw model of the patient; and adjusting the relative spatial position (23) of the positioning element (23) and the positioning element (25) of the position (cr) in step e) is based on the relative position determined by the patient's hinge axis i8 during registration; between the jaw adapter (I). The method for determining the hinge arc in step c) is by contactless contacting of an open movement of the lower jaw. This method, as defined in ml> or 2, wherein the determination of the ring axes in step ci includes the determination of the reference beams to be attached to the skull and the associated raftoneia angle where, in step ej, the reference angle is set during registration. in a manner similar to a specified reference angle, some of the bite carrier (3) arranged on the coupling-engaging element (23) is adjusted by adjusting the angular position of the reierenia. lower pivot (fitting with a clamping model relative to a reference plane of the clamping foot (22)). A method according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that, in order to achieve a non-contact measurement, a measuring support (4) is connected to the jaw adapter. (1) .. where the snap element «4} has signaling elements for the non-contact positioning process according to claim 4, characterized in that the measuring support element 14) is connected to . with a lower jaw adapter (!) via a coupling-receiving roller (9) disposed on the gauge delam (4), wherein the coupling annular (9) of the gauge element (4) is configured such that form is complementary. the lower jaw-adapter fi) coupling device i 10), and wherein the spatial position of the marking elements (?) of the dip-holder (4) is known relative to the probe element (9) of the measuring bracket (4). 6. Procedure from 2 to 3 according to one of the claims, characterized in that the non-contact measurement is effected by means of optical imaging of the signaling elements for use by at least one imaging camera. A method according to claim 6, characterized in that the contactless measurement in the magi t is a camera of the subject! rog / rten jol / o elements (7 * digital tongue Wgo / nsar, where digital image processing includes at least one of its operations, such as a Hottgfr transformation. É Method m according to one of claims 7 to 7, characterized in that 3) and the arrangement of the lower jaw model at the mounting position <22} in the step, and the mounting position intercept receivers «$ 123 and the relative spatial position of the bite carrier f3, t arranged thereon in the step. aligning in step e) is carried out by means of lower jaw transfer wines, wherein said lower jaw transfer wines include two axial signaling elements and a linker receiving, which is also the installer! is an interlocking device (23) for the bite carrier for the coupling device (111), wherein the relative spatial position is the line connecting the axis marking elements. the lower jaw transfer loop between the coupling device, adjustable by the lower jaw transfer loop and fixed in step c), similar to the strap-hinge-dong set, while the axle-beam members are coupled to the axial position points of the mounting on the hinge shaft or adjusted to azolbtm% Process according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the lower terminal terminal adapter is? its bite carrier is designed like an occult bite! villa (3). 10 »A method according to claim 9, wherein the following steps provide for the placement of the carpet material on the bite (3) on the upper jaw side. tooth-contact surface; c ") creating an impression of the upper jaw fegsor, the bite (3i on the surface of the upper jaw joints in the pine material; 11. Procedure to m ΪΛΜ fe. According to one of the claims, characterized in that the a hafeplm carrier of the also aUkapoes adapter is formed as a vaporizer (a paraocclusar'j recording aid (2), Ä Procedure for L .. According to one of the claims of claim 1, wherein the lower jaw adapter {II core comprises an occlusive IrarapM fork (3) having a coupling inserting bite carrier and a para-occlusive recording aid (2) having with an intermediate adapter (6) having an end-engaging receiving element (9) for the coupling device (10) of the occlusal fork (3), wherein, in step ej, for determining the hinge axle, the para-occlusive register aid (2) with the intermediate adapter (6) is used, and the spatial position of the paw-zerosian (S) to the intermediate adapter 01 is the interconnection-ib (9), the method comprising the following additional steps: €; {> after defining the hinge axis, arrangement of the forceps bite fork (3), using the intermediate adapter (6) on the para-occlusive recording device ( 2) even arranged on the patient's jaw so as to create, for the fly, another impression of the lower jaw tooth occlusion, the occlusal bite on the fork-facing surface of the fork (3); and Cjj separating the occlusal bite fork (3) from the para-occlusive register aid (2) and removing the occlusive bite fork (31 and the para-occlusive recording aid t'2) from the patient's lower jaw. 13 * Fouling according to one of claims 1, 12, dg, according to claim 1, wherein the spatial position of the cantilever-hinge axis in step cl is all one-sided imager. in a position in a relative position between the lower jaw and the upper jaw, from a habituated position, the method comprising the following further steps; gi is the posretonization of a top-model model model relative to the lower jaw model for mounting 02 », miamim. â € ítése Attaching the jaw model of the tube to the clamping plate of the clamping jaw £ 22), h) the relative movement of the upper jaw mounting plate with the upper jaw model to the lower jaw mounting plate with the lower jaw model, in order to reach the medication. relative position. Isi Registration System, which includes a jaw adapter (I) having a bite carrier (3). and an article tent assembly (22). for transmitting a dummy model of a patient relative to a camshaft in the assembly (22). jaw adapter (I) and patient with a bite. which can be arranged on the bite carrier (3) where it is. the jaun adapter has the iunapamhordo / oja táa with a coupling device). which forms a connection to a shape, forming a connecting member 33), the form of which is a welder for the engraving of the coupler on the insert, and which can be arranged a. and (22) to a reproducible mlat position relative to the α-α-α-α-α-nucleic acid (25), and wherein the jaw adapter (1) can be linked to a metastatic tissue to determine the percent (%), and the spatial position of the coupling arrows (23) of the mounting bracket (22): the mounting bracket (22) is defined and reproducibly adjustable relative to the hinge shaft (25), indicating that the jaw adapter ü is a lower jaw adapter, the measuring holder (4) is a lower jaw gauge support and the bite carrier is a lower jaw, bite carrier (3), wherein the recording system is configured to be a target heat) that is defined by the lever hinge axis (8). ? its position on the lower jaw bite carrier (3? relative to the coupling device (10), IS, Registration System according to claim 14, characterized in that the dipper Tinlem (4) has a connecting yoke element (9), the form of which is complementary to the coupling device (10) of the also: -JuUpoos adapters (1). M, Registration System, according to claim 14 or 15, characterized in that the installer! On its interconnector * receivers (23), a lower jaw transmission: loop is formed by an angular confrontation resin adder, which can be arranged on a mounting position (22) in a fixed spatial position relative to the stop of the valve * 22 Ί for the hinge shaft · where the lower jaw transmission loop itself. includes two axial yoke elements for spatially locating the lower jaw transfer loop at the spacing. where the relative spatial position is the straight line between the straight line connecting the axis markers and the lower jaw transmission loop: between the lower jaw transfer loop, adjustable relative to the patient's gang axis and the bite carrier between the coupling device. and can be fixed to the lower jaw transfer loop. 1¾ A sculpture system according to one of Claims 14 to 16, characterized in that a linking fading element (23) disposed on the fitting (22) for engaging the bite carrier (3) can be configured to be a circular-dMM conductor. a device (29) for mounting (22) relative to a serrated slipfire, the center of the arc being coincident with the mounting position hinge shaft (25) in a zero position; that the artillery (22) is a mtikukhor. brain is an articulator feisD part.